Kratom is often marketed as natural, plant-based, or harmless because it can be purchased in gas stations, smoke shops, convenience stores, and online. But just as we know with alcohol, just because the substance is readily accessible does not make it safe.
The reality is that kratom and newer 7-OH tablets and other products can cause dependence, withdrawal, serious medical complications, overdose, and death. This is not just a supplement issue anymore. The kratom market has changed, and some products being sold today are much stronger than what many people think they are buying.
Traditional kratom comes from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, which is native to Southeast Asia. It contains naturally occurring alkaloids that can affect the brain and body, including opioid receptors. Some people use kratom for pain, energy, anxiety, mood, or to try to manage withdrawal from other substances. But regular use can lead to tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal.
7-OH, or 7-hydroxymitragynine, is an opioid-active compound associated with kratom. In traditional whole-leaf kratom, 7-OH is naturally present only in very small amounts. Many newer products, however, often contain concentrated, added, or enhanced 7-OH. These products are often sold as 7-OH tablets, gummies, drink shots, extracts, or powders, and some are still marketed as “kratom.”
That distinction matters. A person may think they are buying a natural kratom product when they may actually be using something much stronger and more opioid-like. In some ways, 7-OH has created a fentanyl-like concern within the kratom market: people may believe they are using one thing, but may be exposed to something stronger, more addictive, and more dangerous than expected.
The packaging of these 7-OH products can make the risk easy to miss. Some products look like candy, energy shots, or wellness supplements. The scariest part is that some of these products are being sold like harmless supplements, but they can act on the same opioid receptor system involved in dependence, withdrawal, overdose risk, and the need for Narcan in some emergencies. That is a very different conversation than someone casually buying a “natural” product from a gas station or smoke shop.
But the clinical picture can include opioid-like dependence, withdrawal, respiratory depression, overdose, and death. What looks harmless on a shelf can be medically serious in real life.
No one should assume kratom is safe simply because it is plant-based or legally available substance such as alcohol or even cigarettes. Traditional kratom leaf, concentrated extracts, and 7-OH products are not all the same, but all deserve caution. The risk associated with using kratom increases when someone is using daily, using higher amounts, using extracts or shots, using 7-OH products, or combining them with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, sleep medications, or other substances.
Serious toxicity and overdose can occur with kratom and 7-OH. Warning signs may include severe sedation, confusion, trouble breathing, blue lips, seizure activity, chest pain, fainting, severe vomiting, hallucinations, or being difficult to wake.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, has been used in reported kratom and 7-OH overdose situations because these products can produce opioid-like effects. If someone is overly sedated, not breathing normally, or cannot be awakened, Narcan should be given if available and 911 should be called immediately. Narcan may help reverse opioid-like respiratory depression, but it is not a substitute for emergency medical care.
The data is concerning. According to the CDC, kratom-related poison center reports increased by approximately 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, rising from 258 reports to 3,434 reports. Poison centers have also reported serious health problems among people exposed to 7-OH, including trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure.
Overdose is not the only concern. Kratom and 7-OH can also create a cycle of dependence and withdrawal. A person may start using it to feel better, manage pain, get through the day, or avoid discomfort. Over time, the body adapts. The person may begin needing more, dosing more often, waking up in withdrawal, or feeling unable to stop.
Kratom and 7-OH withdrawal may include anxiety, sweating, restlessness, body aches, stomach upset, diarrhea, sleep problems, low mood, cravings, and a feeling of being unable to get comfortable. People using concentrated 7-OH products may experience a more opioid-like withdrawal pattern, especially when they are using frequently or in high amounts.
At Long Island Center for Recovery, we understand that the kratom supply has changed. Many patients who say they are using kratom may actually be using 7-OH tablets, gummies, drink shots, extracts, or other high-potency products. That changes the clinical picture.
Our healthcare team is experienced in treating kratom and 7-OH withdrawal. Treatment begins by identifying what the person has actually been using, how often they are using it, what symptoms they are experiencing, and whether other substances are involved.
The bottom line is clear: kratom and 7-OH are not harmless simply because they are sold over the counter. A product sitting on a gas station or smoke shop shelf can still have opioid-like effects, cause real dependence, trigger withdrawal, and lead to overdose or death. The packaging may look casual, but the risk is not. Kratom and 7-OH need to be taken seriously, especially in today’s market where products may be stronger, more concentrated, and far more dangerous than people realize.
We hope you learned more about the risks associated with kratom and the growing concern around 7-OH tablets and other products. If you or a loved one is in need of any addiction treatment services in the future, please reach out to Long Island Center for Recovery at 1-800-344-5427, and we’d be happy to assist you or your loved ones in any way possible.
Posted in: Drug DetoxDrug Rehab
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